Pressure management methods for determining non-inclusive forces and apparatuses incorporating the same

ABSTRACT

A method includes determining that a portion of a force applied to a sensor system was applied to a non-inclusive region of the sensor system. An activation area of the non-inclusive region may be determined. A force distribution of the non-inclusive region may be determined. A corresponding force measurement of the non-inclusive region based on the activation area and the force distribution may be calculated.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present specification generally relates to sensor systems andprocesses for detecting and measuring a pressure applied to a sensor,and more specifically, to methods for detecting a pressure distributionand localization of non-inclusive forces applied to a sensor system todetermine a resultant force.

BACKGROUND

Sensors may be utilized to collect pressure measurements appliedthereto. For instance, gloves incorporating sensor technology may beutilized to collect representative pressure measurements experiencedalong an operator's hand when a force is received thereon. To improve anaccuracy of the pressure measurements detected by a sensor, relativeparameters that are directly proportionate to a force received along thesensor may be determined and incorporated when computing a resultantforce. In instances where a physical force is received along anon-inclusive region, which does not include a sensor, rather thanacross a sensor, including parameters such as the complete area of thesensor to compute a resultant force may provide inaccurate pressuremeasurements than that actually experienced on the glove. Accordingly, adetermination of a resultant pressure measurement may includeinaccuracies due to the relative parameters of the sensor incorporatedinto computing a pressure measurement applied to the sensor and the lackof sensors included in the non-inclusive region, where a portion of theforce was applied. The potential inaccuracy in measuring the detectedpressure may be detrimental to the objective of identifying a magnitudeof force received thereon.

Accordingly, a need exists for systems and methods that more accuratelymeasure forces and pressures applied to non-inclusive regions of gloves.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a method includes determining that a portion of aforce applied to a sensor system was applied to a non-inclusive regionof the sensor system. An activation area of the non-inclusive region maybe determined. A force distribution of the non-inclusive region may bedetermined. A corresponding force measurement of the non-inclusiveregion based on the activation area and the force distribution may becalculated.

In another embodiment, a sensor system may include a sensing areadisposed along a surface of the sensor system and a non-inclusive regionarranged adjacent to the sensing area, wherein the non-inclusive regiondoes not include a sensor. The sensor system further includes aprocessor that, when executing computer readable and executableinstructions of the sensor system, causes the sensor system to:determine that a portion of a force applied to the sensor system wasapplied to the non-inclusive region of the sensor system; determine anactivation area of the non-inclusive region; determine a forcedistribution of the non-inclusive region; and calculate a correspondingforce measurement of the non-inclusive region based on the activationarea and the force distribution.

These and additional features provided by the embodiments describedherein will be more fully understood in view of the following detaileddescription, in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplaryin nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by theclaims. The following detailed description of the illustrativeembodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with thefollowing drawings, where like structure is indicated with likereference numerals and in which:

FIG. 1A schematically depicts an illustrative sensing sensor systemincluding a plurality of sensor regions and non-inclusive regions alongsurfaces of a glove according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein;

FIG. 1B schematically depicts a sensing area and a non-inclusive regionof the illustrative sensing sensor system of FIG. 1A according to one ormore embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 1C schematically depicts a sensing area and a non-inclusive regionof the illustrative sensing sensor system of FIG. 1A according to one ormore embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 2A schematically depicts another illustrative sensing sensor systemincluding a plurality of sensors and non-inclusive regions alongsurfaces of a glove according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein;

FIG. 2B schematically depicts a sensing area and a non-inclusive regionof the illustrative sensing sensor system of FIG. 2A according to one ormore embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 2C schematically depicts a sensing area and a non-inclusive regionof the illustrative sensing sensor system of FIG. 2A according to one ormore embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of distributinga force across the sensing area and non-inclusive region of the sensingsensor system of FIG. 1B according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein;

FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of distributinga force across the sensing area and non-inclusive region of the sensingsensor system of FIG. 2B according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein; and

FIG. 5 depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of distributinga force across the sensing area and non-inclusive region of the sensingsensor system of FIG. 1B according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems may include one or more arrays (e.g., regions) of sensorassemblies positioned thereon designed to collectively detect a forcereceived along the glove. By detecting a physical force applied to thesensor arrays of the glove, an operator of the glove may identify aresultant pressure endured at various locations along the operator'shand. With the pressure data detected by the sensor assemblies of theglove, an operator of the sensor system may adjust a manner inperforming a task (e.g., adjusting a physical position, geometry, and/ororientation of an operator's hand) as a result of analyzing said data tominimize the force endured along an operator's hand and thereby reduceinstances of possible injury, discomfort, and/or unnecessary-expendedlabor when performing the task. To determine an appropriate method toperform a task, based on the forces applied to an operator's hand whenperforming the task, accurately measuring a resultant pressure isdesirable. However, in some instances a resultant pressure measurementmay vary relative to an actual force received along an operator's handdue to the application of a portion of the force along a non-inclusiveregion. Inaccuracies of measuring a force may provide challenges inaccurately measuring a resultant pressure applied to an operator's handand in determining an appropriate method in performing a task with theoperator's hand.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods thatinclude sensor technology for detecting and measuring forces receivedalong a glove. More specifically, the present disclosure relates tosensor systems and methods that improve an accuracy of measuring apressure received along a sensor assembly and a non-inclusive region ofthe glove by determining an actual active area of the non-inclusiveregion that receives a force thereon for incorporation into actual forcecomputations. Providing a sensor system that localizes a non-inclusiveforce received adjacent to a sensor may assist in accurately measuring aresultant pressure calculated from a force applied thereto. The sensorsystem may aid in determining an appropriate method, such as a physicalposition or orientation, in performing a task by detecting and measuringvarious forces received at an operator's hand at an actual active areaalong a surface of the operator's hand with accuracy by localizing thearea that the force was received on the sensor system for accuratemeasurement.

It should be appreciated that the sensor systems and methods disclosedherein may have additional uses. For example, the sensor systems andmethods may be used with artificial skin, artificial prosthetic skin,artificial robotic skin, flexible tactile force feedback sensing forrobots, smart prosthetics synthetic skin for limbs, anatomicalprosthetic tactile force feedback, and artificial intelligence tactilesynthetic skin. Specifically, the sensor system may be placed on orwithin an artificial skin which is used to detect force applied to anarea which includes the artificial skin. Additionally, the sensorsystems may be arranged on robotic device so that the robotic devicesmay detect a force applied to the robotic device during an assembly ormeasuring process.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1A depicts an illustrative networkhaving components for a sensor system 10 according to embodiments shownand described herein. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the sensor system 10utilizes a computer network 16 that may include a wide area network(WAN), such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a mobilecommunications network, a public service telephone network (PSTN), apersonal area network (PAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), avirtual private network (VPN), and/or another network. The computernetwork 16 may generally electronically connect one or more components,systems, and/or devices of the sensor system 10, such as computingdevices and/or components thereof. Illustrative systems, components,and/or devices of the sensor system 10 may include, but are not limitedto, a computing device 12, a server computing device 14, and a gloveapparatus 100.

The computing device 12 is a computing device that provides an interfacebetween an operator of the sensor system 10 and the other components ofthe sensor system 10 via the computer network 16. The computing device12 may be used to perform one or more user-facing functions of thesensor system 10, such as allowing a user to analyze data received fromanother component of the sensor system 10 (e.g., the glove apparatus100) or inputting information to be transmitted to other components ofthe sensor system 10 (e.g., the server computing device 14), asdescribed in greater detail herein. Accordingly, the computing device 12may include at least a display and/or input hardware for facilitatingthe one or more user-interfacing functions. The computing device 12 mayalso be used to input additional data into the sensor system 10 thatsupplements the data stored and received from the glove apparatus 100.For example, the computing device 12 may contain software programming orthe like that allows a user to view force data detected by a pluralityof sensing regions 122 positioned on the glove apparatus 100, review aload distribution determined by the server computing device 14, andprovide supplemental information accordingly, such as calibration valuesfor the plurality of sensing regions 122, as described in greater detailherein.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, the server computing device 14 is a remoteserver that may receive data from one or more sensing regions 122 of theglove apparatus 100, analyze the received data, generate data (e.g., anestimated localized subarea, load distribution, pressure magnitudes,confidences factors of computed pressure magnitudes, etc.), store data,index data, search data, and/or provide data to the computing device 12(or components thereof) via the computer network 16. More specifically,the server computing device 14 may employ one or more load distributionand pressure gradient estimation algorithms for the purposes ofanalyzing data that is received from the glove apparatus 100, asdescribed in greater detail herein. In some embodiments, the servercomputing device 14 includes one or more hardware components integratedtherein and used with the sensor system 10, such as, for example, anon-transitory computer-readable medium for completing the variousprocesses described herein, embodied as hardware, software, and/orfirmware, according to embodiments shown and described herein.

The server computing device 14 may further include a processing device,such as a computer processing unit (CPU) that is a central processingunit of the sensor system 10, performing calculations and logicoperations to execute a program. The processing device of the servercomputing device 14, alone or in conjunction with the other components,may include any processing component configured to receive and executeinstructions, such as from the glove apparatus 100 and/or the computingdevice 12. The non-transitory memory medium of the server computingdevice 14 may include one or more programming instructions thereon that,when executed by a processing device of the server computing device 14,cause the processing device to complete various processes, such ascertain processes described herein with respect to analyzing anddetermining pressure magnitude data upon detecting a force applied tothe glove apparatus 100. The programming instructions stored on thenon-transitory memory medium of the server computing device 14 may beembodied as a plurality of software logic modules, where each logicmodule provides programming instructions for completing one or moretasks. As described in greater detail herein, the server computingdevice 14 is configured to compute a raw confidence and an interpolatedconfidence factor based on an estimated error probability of a pressuremagnitude determined for each of the sensing regions 122 that receive aforce thereon. The confidence factor is an evaluation of error incomputing the pressure magnitude based on a load distribution and alocalized subarea.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, it should be understood that while thecomputing device 12 is depicted as a personal computer and the servercomputing device 14 is depicted as a server, these are non-limitingexamples. In some embodiments, any type of computing device (e.g.,mobile computing device, computer, server, cloud-based network ofdevices, etc.) may be used for any of these components. Additionally,while each of these computing devices is illustrated in FIG. 1A as asingle and separate piece of hardware, this is also merely an example.Each of the computing device 12 and the server computing device 14 mayrepresent a plurality of computers, servers, databases, components,and/or the like. In other embodiments, the computing device 12 and theserver computing device 14 may be integrated into a single apparatussuch that the sensor system 10 includes fewer components communicativelycoupled to one another through the computer network 16. In embodimentswhere the server computing device 14 is a separate apparatus from thatof the computing device 12, the methods described herein provide amechanism for improving the functionality of the server computing device14 by moving certain processor-intensive tasks away from the computingdevice 12 to be completed by an external device that is more adapted forsuch tasks (e.g., the server computing device 14).

The glove apparatus 100 may generally including at least one fingersurface region 102 and a palmar surface region 104. The palmar surfaceregion 104 of the glove apparatus 100 includes a palmar metacarpalregion 106, a median palmar region 108, a hypothenar region 110, and athenar region 112.

The palmar surface region 104 of the glove apparatus 100 includes one ormore sensing areas 120 and one or more non-inclusive regions 126, 128positioned thereon, and in particular along one or more of the palmarmetacarpal region 106, the median palmar region 108, the hypothenarregion 110, and the thenar region 112. In the present example, thepalmar surface region 104 includes three sensing areas 120 and threenon-inclusive regions 126 positioned along the palmar metacarpal region106, one sensing area 120 and one non-inclusive region 126 positionedalong the hypothenar region 110, and one sensing area 120 and onenon-inclusive region 126 positioned along the thenar region 112. The oneor more sensing areas 120 may be secured to and attached to the gloveapparatus 100 by various methods, including, but not limited to,printing the one or more sensing areas 120 onto a fabric of the gloveapparatus 100, weaving the one or more sensing areas 120 into a fabricof the glove apparatus 100, adhesively securing the one or more sensingareas 120 to the glove, and/or the like. The non-inclusive regions 126may be arranged adjacent to a corresponding sensing area 120, or may bearranged on any portion of the surface of the sensor system 10 where asensing area 120 is not arranged, such as non-inclusive region 128. Itshould be understood that additional and/or fewer sensing areas 120 andnon-inclusive regions 126, 128 may be positioned along variousanatomical regions of the palmar surface region 104 than those shown anddepicted herein without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, the one or more sensing areas 120 of theglove apparatus 100 include a plurality of sensing regions 122positioned therein. In some embodiments, the plurality of sensingregions 122 of each of the one or more sensing areas 120 are sized,shaped and positioned along the palmar surface region 104 relative to anintended-task to be performed with the glove apparatus 100. In otherwords, a location and profile of the one or more sensing areas 120, andthe plurality of sensing regions 122 included therein, along the palmarsurface region 104 of the glove apparatus 100 may be determined based ona predetermined use of the glove apparatus 100. Accordingly, the one ormore sensing areas 120 and non-inclusive regions 126 are sized andpositioned along the corresponding regions 106, 108, 110, 112 of thepalmar surface region 104 that generally receive a force load thereonwhen performing the predetermined task with an operator's hand. As willbe described in greater detail herein, the one or more sensing areas 120and non-inclusive regions 126 may be positioned along the finger surfaceregion 102 of the glove apparatus 100 for instances where an operator'shand generally receives a force load thereon when performing apredetermined task. In addition to the one or more sensing areas 120 andnon-inclusive regions 126 being positioned along the glove apparatus 100at locations where a static, push load may be received duringperformance of a predetermined task, the one or more sensing areas 120and non-inclusive regions 126 may be further positioned along portionsof the glove apparatus 100, and in particular the palmar surface region104, where transverse, slidable loads may be received that generateindirect forces along an operator's hand.

The plurality of sensing regions 122 of each of the one or more sensingareas 120 are further sized, shaped and positioned along the palmarsurface region 104 relative to a surface curvature of an operator'shand. In other words, a profile of the one or more sensing areas 120,the plurality of sensing regions 122 included therein, and the one ormore non-inclusive regions 126, 128, along the palmar surface region 104of the glove apparatus 100 may be determined based on a surfacecurvature of an operator's hand along the particular region 106, 108,110, 112 of the palmar surface region 104 where the sensing area 120 islocated. In the present example, the plurality of sensing regions 122 ofthe sensing areas 120 and the non-inclusive region 126 located along thepalmar metacarpal region 106 are sized and shaped relative to thecurvature and size of the palmar metacarpal region 106. Accordingly, theplurality of sensing regions 122 of the sensing areas 120 located alongthe palmar metacarpal region 106 are relatively small and circular dueto a corresponding contour of the palmar metacarpal region 106.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, the plurality of sensing regions 122 of thesensing areas 120 and the non-inclusive regions 126 located along thehypothenar region 110 and the thenar region 112 are sized and shapedrelative to the curvature and size of the hypothenar region 110 and thethenar region 112, respectively. Accordingly, the plurality of sensingregions 122 of the sensing areas 120 and the non-inclusive regions 126located along the hypothenar region 110 and the thenar region 112 arerelatively large and elongated due to a corresponding contour of thehypothenar region 110 and the thenar region 112. It should be understoodthat the plurality of sensing regions 122 within an individual sensingarea 120 may vary in size and geometry relative one another. It shouldfurther be understood that various other sizes, geometries and positionsof the one or more sensing areas 120 and non-inclusive regions 126, 128,and in particular the sensing regions 122 positioned therein, along thepalmar surface region 104 may be included on the glove apparatus 100than those shown and depicted herein. As will be described in greaterdetail herein, with the glove apparatus 100 including a plurality ofsensing regions 122 within the one or more sensing areas 120 andnon-inclusive regions 126, the glove apparatus 100 is configured tosense force loads applied thereto along general, non-discrete anatomicalportions of an operator's hand (i.e., along the sensing regions 122). Itshould be understood that with the inclusion of the plurality of sensingregions 122 within the one or more sensing areas 120, the gloveapparatus 100 may provide a general indication of a location along theglove apparatus 100 where a pressure is received. As will be describedin greater detail herein, inclusion of individual, discrete sensors mayprovide a specific indication of the location in which the sensor systemreceives a pressure.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, the glove apparatus 100 mayfurther include one or more sensing areas 120 and non-inclusive regionspositioned along one or more finger surface regions 102. The one or moresensing areas 120 include a plurality of sensing regions 122 positionedtherein that are relatively sized and shaped in correspondence to apredetermined use of the glove apparatus 100 and/or a surface curvatureof the finger surface region 102. For example, the plurality of sensingregions 122 of the sensing area 120 may extend up to and wrap around adistal end 101 of the finger surface region 102 when the distal end 101generally receives force loads thereon when performing a predeterminedtask with an operator's hand. A non-inclusive region 126 may be arrangedadjacent to the sensing area 120. Additionally or alternatively, by wayof further example, the plurality of sensing regions 122 of the sensingarea 120 may be curved along the finger surface region 102 incorrespondence to a surface contour of an operator's hand at the fingersurface region 102, as depicted in FIG. 1C. Although a single sensingarea 120 is shown and described on the finger surface region 102 of thepresent example, it should be understood that additional and/or fewersensing areas 120 and non-inclusive regions 126 may be positioned alongvarious other anatomical portions of the finger surface region 102without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, itshould be understood that the plurality of sensing regions 122 within anindividual sensing area 120 may vary in size and shape relative oneanother and various other sizes, shapes and positions of the one or moresensing areas 120 and sensing regions 122 along the finger surfaceregion 102 may be included on the glove apparatus 100 than those shownand depicted herein.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, in the present example the plurality ofsensing regions 122 extend along curved anatomical portions of thefinger surface region 102, in addition to planar anatomical portions, tothereby position at least one sensing region 122 of the sensing area 120along each anatomical portion of the finger surface region 102 thatgenerally receives a force load. The plurality of sensing regions 122 ofthe sensing area 120 positioned along the curved portions of the fingersurface region 102 are form-fitted to the curvature of the anatomicalshape of an operator's finger. Although a single sensing area 120 isshown and described on the finger surface region 102 of the presentexample, it should be understood that additional and/or fewer sensingareas 120 may be positioned along various other anatomical portions ofthe finger surface region 102 without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure. Further, it should be understood that the pluralityof sensing regions 122 within an individual sensing area 120 and/orplurality of sensors 124 within an individual sensing region 122 mayvary in size and shape relative one another and various other sizes,shapes and positions of the one or more sensing areas 120 and sensingregions 122 along the finger surface region 102 may be included on theglove apparatus 100 than those shown and depicted herein.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, an example sensing area 120 and anon-inclusive region 126 for FIG. 1A is depicted. Each sensing area 120may include a plurality of various and different sensing regions 122,such as a first sensing region 122A including a first sensor 124A, asecond sensing region 122B including a second sensor 124B, a thirdsensing region 122C including a third sensor 124C, a fourth sensingregion 122D including a fourth sensor 124D, and a fifth sensing region122E including a fifth sensor 124E. The sensors 124A-124E may bearranged underneath each sensing region so that a force applied to anyportion of the sensing regions 122A-122E will apply a force to thesensor. The sensing regions 122A-122E may be adjacent to one another, orhave a gap provided between each sensing region. Additionally, thesensing regions 122A-122E may be arranged in any configuration in orderto accurately detect an applied force, including adding additionalsensing regions to the sensing area 120. In embodiments, the sensor 124Cmay be shaped to correspond to the shape of the sensing region 122C toensure any force applied to the sensing region 122C is detected by thesensor 124C. It should be appreciated that any of the sensors 124A-124Emay be shaped to correspond to their respective sensing regions122A-122E. The non-inclusive region 126 substantially encompasses thesensing area 120 since the sensing regions 122A-122E are arrangedadjacent to one another. In embodiments, if a sensing area 120 includedsensing regions 122 which were not arranged adjacent to one another, butincluded gaps between the sensing regions 122, than a non-inclusiveregion 126 would be arranged within the gap between sensing regions 122.As depicted, a force 130 may be applied to the sensing region 122A, anddetected by the sensor 124A. However, the force 130 is not fully appliedto the sensing region 122A, with a portion of the force 130 beingapplied to the non-inclusive region 126. Therefore, the total appliedforce is not being detected by the sensor 124A. Additionally, the force132 may be applied to a portion of the sensing region 122D and thesensing region 122E, where the force 132 is detected by sensors 124D and124E. Similarly, a portion of the force 132 is applied to thenon-inclusive region 126. Therefore, the total applied force is notbeing detected by the sensors 124D and 124E. An example of force 130 andforce 132 would be the circular profile of a bolt being pressed upon forinsertion.

A material composition of the one or more sensing areas 120 along thefinger surface region 102 may vary relative to the one or more sensingareas 120 positioned along the palmar surface region 104 to retainadequate finger tactility for the glove apparatus 100 along the fingersurface regions 102. In particular, materials providing a reducedrigidity for the sensing areas 120 along the finger surface regions 102to thereby preserve ease of movement of the finger surface regions 102by an operator of the glove apparatus 100. Additionally, a materialthickness of the one or more sensing areas 120 along the finger surfaceregion 102 may vary relative to the one or more sensing areas 120positioned along the palmar surface region 104 to provide sufficientmaneuverability for the glove apparatus 100 along the finger surfaceregions 102.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, a sensor system 20 is depicted includinganother illustrative glove apparatus 200. Except as otherwise describedbelow, it should be understood that the glove apparatus 200 issubstantially similar to the glove apparatus 100 described above suchthat like reference numerals are used to identify like components.However, the glove apparatus 200 is different than the glove apparatus100 in that the glove apparatus 200 includes one or more sensing areas220 having at least one sensing region 222 disposed therein, with eachsensing region 222 including a one or more sensors 224. In the presentexample, the palmar surface region 104 includes three sensing areas 220and one or more non-inclusive regions 226, 228 positioned along thepalmar metacarpal region 106, one sensing area 220 and one or morenon-inclusive regions 226, 228 positioned along the hypothenar region110 and one sensing area 220 and one or more non-inclusive regions 226,228 positioned along the thenar region 112. Each of the sensing areas220 of the glove apparatus 200 include at least one sensing region 222and one or more non-inclusive regions 226, 228, and in some instancestwo or more sensing regions 222, with each of the sensing regions 222including at least one individual, discrete sensor 224 positionedtherein. In some embodiments, the sensing areas 220 include a pluralityof sensing regions 222 and the each of the plurality of sensing regions222 include a plurality of sensors 224. The one or more sensing areas220 and one or more non-inclusive regions 226, 228 may be secured to andattached to the glove apparatus 200 by various methods, including, butnot limited to, printing the one or more sensing areas 220 onto a fabricof the glove apparatus 200, weaving the one or more sensing areas 220into a fabric of the glove apparatus 200, adhesively securing the one ormore sensing areas 220 to the glove, and/or the like. It should beunderstood that additional and/or fewer sensing areas 220 and/or sensors224 may be positioned along various anatomical regions of the palmarsurface region 104 than those shown and depicted herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors 224 of each of the one ormore sensing areas 220 are sized, shaped and positioned along the palmarsurface region 104 relative to an intended-task to be performed with theglove apparatus 200. In other words, a location and profile of the oneor more sensing areas 220, and the plurality of sensors 224 includedtherein, along the palmar surface region 104 of the glove apparatus 200may be determined based on a predetermined use of the glove apparatus200. Accordingly, the one or more sensing areas 220 and one or morenon-inclusive regions 226, 228 are sized and positioned along thecorresponding regions 106, 108, 110, 112 of the palmar surface region104 that generally receive a force load thereon when performing thepredetermined task with an operator's hand. As will be described ingreater detail herein, the one or more sensing areas 220, and inparticular the plurality of sensors 224, may be positioned along thefinger surface region 102 of the glove apparatus 200 for instances wherean operator's hand generally receives a force load thereon whenperforming a predetermined task.

Still referring to FIG. 2A, the plurality of sensors 224 of each of theone or more sensing areas 220 are further sized, shaped and positionedalong the palmar surface region 104 relative to a surface curvature ofan operator's hand. In other words, a profile of the one or more sensingareas 220, and the plurality of sensors 224 included therein, along thepalmar surface region 104 of the glove apparatus 200 may be determinedbased on a surface curvature of an operator's hand along the particularregion 106, 108, 110, 112 of the palmar surface region 104 where thesensing area 220 is located. In the present example, the plurality ofsensors 224 of the sensing areas 220 located along the palmar metacarpalregion 106 are sized and shaped relative to the curvature and size ofthe palmar metacarpal region 106. Accordingly, the plurality of sensors224 of the sensing areas 220 located along the palmar metacarpal region106 are relatively small due to a corresponding contour of the palmarmetacarpal region 106.

The plurality of sensors 224 of the sensing areas 220 and thenon-inclusive regions 226 located along the hypothenar region 110 andthe thenar region 112 are sized and shaped relative to the curvature andsize of the hypothenar region 110 and the thenar region 112,respectively. Accordingly, the plurality of sensors 224 of the sensingareas 220 and the non-inclusive regions 226 located along the hypothenarregion 110 and the thenar region 112 are relatively larger due to acorresponding contour of the hypothenar region 110 and the thenar region112. It should be understood that the plurality of sensors 224 within anindividual sensing area 220 may vary in size and shape relative oneanother. It should be further understood that various other sizes,shapes and positions of the one or more sensing areas 220, and inparticular the sensors 224 positioned therein, along the palmar surfaceregion 104 may be included on the glove apparatus 200 than those shownand depicted herein. As will be described in greater detail herein, withthe glove apparatus 200 including a plurality of sensors 224 within theone or more sensing areas 220, the glove apparatus 200 is configured tosense force loads applied thereto along particular, discrete anatomicalportions of an operator's hand (i.e., on the sensors 224). It should beunderstood that with the inclusion of the plurality of individual,discrete sensors 224 within the one or more sensing areas 220, the gloveapparatus 200 may provide a specific indication of a location along theglove apparatus 200 where a pressure is received.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, the glove apparatus 200 mayfurther include one or more sensing areas 220 and one or morenon-inclusive regions 226 positioned along one or more finger surfaceregions 102. The one or more sensing areas 220 include a plurality ofsensors 224 positioned therein that are relatively sized and shaped incorrespondence to a predetermined use of the glove apparatus 200 and/ora surface curvature of the finger surface region 102. For example, theplurality of sensors 224 of the sensing area 220 may extend up to andwrap around the distal end 101 of the finger surface region 102 when thedistal end 101 generally receives force loads thereon when performing apredetermined task with an operator's hand. Additionally oralternatively, by way of further example, the plurality of sensors 224of the sensing area 220 may be curved along the finger surface region102 in correspondence to a surface contour of an operator's hand at thefinger surface region 102, as depicted in FIG. 2C.

In the present example, the plurality of sensors 224 extend along curvedanatomical portions of the finger surface region 102, in addition toplanar anatomical portions, to thereby position at least one sensor 224of the sensing area 220 along each anatomical portion of the fingersurface region 102 that generally receives a force load. Although asingle sensing area 220 is shown and described on the finger surfaceregion 102 of the present example, it should be understood thatadditional and/or fewer sensing areas 220 may be positioned alongvarious other anatomical portions of the finger surface region 102without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, itshould be understood that the plurality of sensors 224 within anindividual sensing area 220 may vary in size and shape relative oneanother and various other sizes, shapes and positions of the one or moresensing areas 220 and sensors 224 along the finger surface region 102may be included on the glove apparatus 200 than those shown and depictedherein.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, an example sensing area 220 and non-inclusiveregion 226 for FIG. 2A is depicted. Each sensing area 220 may include aplurality of various and different sensing regions 222, such as a firstsensing region 222A including a first plurality of sensors 224A, asecond sensing region 222B including a second plurality of sensors 224B,a third sensing region 222C including a plurality of sensors 224C, afourth sensing region 222D including a fourth plurality of sensors 224D,and a fifth sensing region 222E including a fifth plurality of sensors224E. The plurality of sensors 224A-224E may be arranged underneath eachsensing region or above each sensing region so that a force applied toany portion of the sensing regions 222A-222E will apply a force to atleast one of the plurality of sensors 224A-224E. The sensing regions222A-222E may be adjacent to one another, or have a gap provided betweeneach sensing region. Additionally, the sensing regions 222A-222E may bearranged in any configuration in order to accurately detect an appliedforce, including adding additional sensing regions to the sensing area220. The non-inclusive region 226 substantially encompasses the sensingarea 220 since the sensing regions 222A-222E are arranged adjacent toone another. In embodiments, if a sensing area 220 included sensingregions 222 which were not arranged adjacent to one another, butincluded gaps between the sensing regions 222, than a non-inclusiveregion 226 would be arranged within the gap between sensing regions 222.As depicted, a force 230 may be applied to the sensing region 222A, anddetected by the plurality of sensors 224A. However, the force 230 is notfully applied to the sensing region 222A, with a portion of the force230 being applied to the non-inclusive region 226. Therefore, the totalapplied force is not being detected by the plurality of sensors 224A.Additionally, the force 232 may be applied to a portion of the sensingregion 222D and the sensing region 222E, where the force 232 is detectedby the plurality of sensors 224D and 224E. Similarly, a portion of theforce 232 is applied to the non-inclusive region 226. Therefore, thetotal applied force is not being detected by the plurality of sensors224D and 224E. An example of force 230 and force 232 would be thecircular profile of a bolt being pressed upon for insertion.

As mentioned above, the various components of the sensor systems 10, 20described with respect to FIGS. 1A-2B may be used to carry out one ormore processes and/or provide functionality for receiving force datafrom the one or more sensing areas 120, 220 of the glove apparatuses100, 200, processing the force data, and determining estimated localizedsubareas of sensing regions 122 and/or sensors 224, load distributionsacross the sensing regions 122 and/or sensors 224, and/or pressuremagnitudes thereon from the processed force data. The various componentsof the sensor systems 10, 20 may further be used to carry out one ormore processes and/or provide functionality for improving an accuracy ofthe estimated pressure magnitude determination, and in particular, theformula utilized by the server computing device 14 to determine accuratepressure measurements from a force received along the glove apparatuses100, 200. An illustrative example of the various processes is describedwith respect to FIGS. 3-4.

Referring now to the flow diagram of FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIGS. 1Aand 1B, an illustrative method 300 of localizing and measuring a forceload applied to the glove apparatus 100 is schematically depicted. Morespecifically, the glove apparatus 100 is operable to measure a resultantpressure generated from a force load received along the one or moresensing areas 120 on a surface of an occupant's hand. The depiction ofFIG. 3 and the accompanying description below is not meant to limit thesubject matter described herein or represent an exact description of howforces may be localized and measured, but instead is meant to provide asimple schematic overview to illustrate the general force localizationcharacteristics of the method described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in conjunction with the sensor system 10 ofFIGS. 1A and 1B, a flow diagram is schematically depicted of anillustrative method 300 of determining a pressure magnitude in responseto the glove apparatus 100 receiving a force applied thereon. Initially,at step 302, a force applied to a sensing area 120 of a sensor system 10is detected. Referring to FIG. 1B, the sensing area 120 includes a firstsensing region 122A and a second sensing region 122B, the first sensingregion 122A including a first sensor 124A, and the second sensing regionincluding a second sensor 124B. As stated above, a sensing area 120 mayinclude a plurality of sensing regions 122A-E, where each sensing region122A-E includes a sensor 124A-E, as depicted in FIG. 1B. The appliedforce generates an electrical signal within each sensor 124A-E that hasa force applied to a corresponding sensing region 122A-E. This allowsthe sensors 124A-E arranged within the sensing regions 122A-E to detectthe force applied to the sensing regions 122A-E. In this instance, theforce data detected by the sensors 124A-E is transmitted to the servercomputing device 14 of the sensor system 10 via the computer network 16in the form of an electrical signal 15. As a user wears the gloveapparatus 100 and then performs some task (e.g., pushing a box,inserting a screw), a force is applied to the glove apparatus 100. Thisinput force is received by the sensing areas 120 which are arranged onthe surface of the glove apparatus 100.

At step 304, activated states of sensors of the plurality of sensingregions are determined. Referring to FIG. 1B, as the force is applied tothe sensing area 120, an electrical signal is produced by the sensors124A-E of the sensing regions 122A-E in response to the force. Theelectrical signal can be produced through a piezoelectric material, apotentiometer, or the like arranged within the sensing areas 120.

The server computing device 14 determines whether a state of the sensingregions 122A-E receiving the force is in an activated state or aninactivated state. The determination of whether a sensing region 122A-Eis in an activated state is made based on the electrical signals of thesensors 124A-E of the sensing regions 122A-E and the electrical signalsof the sensors 124A-E of other sensing regions 122A-E. For example, if asingle sensing region, for example, the fifth sensing region 122E,including sensor 124E, produces an electrical signal significantly lessthat the other sensing regions 122A-D, then it would be determined thatthe fifth sensing region 122E is in an inactivated state, and may beremoved from further calculations, while the sensing regions 122A-122Dmay be determined to be in an activated state. Accordingly, it should beunderstood that in some instances the sensing regions 122A-E thatreceive a force applied thereto may not detect the force along theindividual, discrete area of the sensing regions 122A-E.

At step 306, force measurements are determined. The determination of theforce measurements may be based on the electrical signals of the sensors124A-E. For example, a first force measurement of the first sensor 124Amay be determined based on a generated electrical signal of the firstsensor 124A. In some embodiments, the first force measurement of thefirst sensor 124A is determined based on a peak generated electricalsignal of the first sensor 124A. As a movement is performed by a user,the electrical signal of the first sensor 124A is recorded (e.g., for atime interval of 5 seconds). After the movement is performed, thatelectrical signal is compared to a corresponding calibration curve forthe first sensor 124A. The peak force over the time interval experiencedby the first sensor 124A is then determined. Additionally, for example,a second force measurement of the second sensor 124B may be determinedbased on a generated electrical signal of the second sensor 124B. Insome embodiments, the second force measurement of the second sensor 124Bis determined based on a peak generated electrical signal of the secondsensor 124B. Similar to the how the force measurement of the firstsensor 124A is determined, as a movement is performed by a user, theelectrical signal of the second sensor 124B is recorded (e.g., for atime interval of 5 seconds). After the movement is performed, thatelectrical signal is compared to a corresponding calibration curve forthe second sensor 124B. The peak force over the time intervalexperienced by the second sensor 124B is then determined. During aprocedure, a user may push on an object while wearing the sensor system10. Over the time interval of the procedure, the force applied isdetected at a sampling rate of 20-40 Hz, although other sampling ratesmay be considered. The peak electrical signals generated by sensingregions 122A-E may be translated into peak force values based on astored calibration curve. The stored calibration curve may be compiledin a lab setting where various known forces were applied to the sensingregions 122A-E, and the corresponding electrical signals of the sensors124A-E were recorded in order to create the stored calibration curveover the effect measuring range of the sensing regions 122A-E. Forexample, if a voltage of 2 volts is being output by the first sensor124A of the first sensing region 122A, then the corresponding forcevalue when the first sensor 124A is detecting 2 volts may be 10 lbfapplied to the first sensing region 122A.

Still referring to FIG. 3, at step 308, a total applied force isdetermined. Referring to the example being described in the precedingparagraphs, the total applied force may be determined based on the firstforce measurement and the second force measurement. The total appliedforce is determined by summing the first force measurement and thesecond force measurement of the first sensor 124A and the second sensor124B, respectively. After each sensing region 122A-E has its peak forcemeasurements calculated based on the stored calibration curves, each ofthe peak force measurements are summed together to determine the peaktotal applied force across the sampling rate. For example, the totalapplied force is represented by the following equation: F_(Total)=F₁+F₂+. . . +F_(N), where N is the total number of sensing regions 122A-Ewithin the sensing area 120.

Still referring to FIG. 3, at step 310, relative magnitudes of thesensing regions are determined. Referring to the example described inthe preceding paragraphs, a first relative magnitude of the firstsensing region 122A is determined based on the first force measurement,a first area of the first sensing region 122A, and at least a portion ofthe total area of the sensing area 120. Additionally, at step 310, asecond relative magnitude of the second sensing region 122B isdetermined based on the second force measurement, the first area of thefirst sensing region 122A, and at least a portion of the total area ofthe sensing area 120. As stated above, a sensing area 120 is broken intovarious sensing regions 122A-E of different sizes across which a totalforce is applied. The relative magnitude (F_(R)) of a sensing region122A-E is represented by the equation: Relative Magnitude(F_(RN))=(Applied Force (F_(N))/Area of Sensing Region (A_(N))). Sincethe total applied force is applied across the sensing area 120, each ofthe sensing regions 122A-E may be related to one another based on thearea of each sensing region 122A-E and the total applied force to thesensing area 120. For example, if the first sensing region 122A has halfas much area as a second sensing region 122B, then the force applied tothe second sensing region 122B (F₂) in terms of the force applied to thefirst sensing region 122A (F₁) would be half of F₁. A system equationfor each individual sensing region 122A-E within a sensing area 120 maybe created, placing the forces applied to each sensing region 122A-E interms of that particular sensing region's measured peak applied force.If the sensing regions 122A-E of the sensing area 120 all had theapplied force applied across their total area, then each of the systemequations for the sensing regions 122A-E would equal the total appliedforce. If a sensing region 122A-E did not have a force applied acrossits total area, then the force calculated by the system equation usingthe relative magnitudes would be less than the total applied force.

At step 312, regional confidence factors are determined. Referring tothe example described in the preceding paragraphs, a first regionalconfidence factor for the first sensing region 122A is determined basedon the first relative magnitude, and the total applied force.Additionally, for example, a second regional confidence factor for thesecond sensing region 122B is determined based on the second relativemagnitude, and the total applied force. The equation to calculate aregional confidence factor is as follows: Regional Confidence Factor(RCF_(N))=F_(RN)/F_(Total). If a sensing region 122A-E had the totalapplied force applied across its entire area, than the regionalconfidence factor would be equal to 100%, since the relative magnitudewould be equal to the total applied force when calculated using thesystem equations from step 310. This process would be repeated for eachsensing region 122A-E within a sensing area 120 so that a regionalconfidence factor for each sensing region 122A-E is calculated.

Still referring to FIG. 3, at step 314, a raw confidence factor isdetermined. Referring to the example described in the precedingparagraphs, a raw confidence factor is determined based on the firstregional confidence factor and the second regional confidence factor. Insome embodiments, the raw confidence factor is determined by averagingthe first regional confidence factor and the second regional confidencefactor. The raw confidence factor is an average of each of the regionalconfidence factors in some embodiments. For example, if each of theregional confidence factors from step 312 were equal to 100%, then thatwould represent that all of the force imparted to a sensing area 120 wascaptured by the activated sensing regions 122A-E. This would yield a rawconfidence factor of 100%, where the equation governing the raw totalconfidence is as follows: Raw Confidence Factor (RCF_(N))=((RCF₁+RCF₂+ .. . +RCF_(N))/N)*100%.

At step 316, the raw confidence factor is compared to a thresholdconfidence factor. For example, in some embodiments it is determined ifthe raw confidence factor is below a threshold confidence factor. If aregional confidence factor were not equal to 100%, representing that aparticular sensing region 122A-E did not receive the full force appliedacross its total area, then the raw confidence factor would be less than100%, and may dip below an acceptable confidence factor threshold. Inembodiments, the threshold confidence factor may be set by a user priorto performing the method, or may be preset to help avoid injury to auser. For example, the threshold confidence factor may be set to a 90%threshold, where the raw confidence factor represents the system'sconfidence in that is collected all the force applied to the sensingregions 122A-E.

At step 318, a correction algorithm is initiated to calculate acorrected confidence factor. In some embodiments, the determination toperform the correction algorithm is based on a comparison of the rawconfidence factor and a threshold confidence factor of step 316. In someembodiments, the correction algorithm to calculate the correctedconfidence factor is performed if the raw confidence factor is below thethreshold confidence factor. In the event the raw confidence factorfalls below the threshold confidence factor, it is determined that aportion of the force applied to a sensing area 120, and particularly toa sensing region 122A-E, was not applied properly to the glove apparatus100, and instead was applied to the non-inclusive regions 126, 128. Thisis detrimental in situations where the glove apparatus 100 is being usedto monitor the ergonomics of a user performing a task. If the forceapplied to the sensing area 120 is not applied correctly, this can leadto fatigue problems and injury to the user. In some embodiments, inorder to ensure that force applied to the glove is not missed, and toensure total applied force is measured appropriately, a non-inclusivenon-discrete correction algorithm is performed on sensing regions 122A-Ewhere the relative magnitude is not equal to the total applied force, aswill be described further below.

Still referring to FIG. 3, at step 320, a non-inclusive region isdetermined. Referring to the example described in the precedingparagraphs, a portion of the force applied to the sensor system 10 wasapplied to the non-inclusive region 126 based on the first regionalconfidence factor of the first sensing region 122A and the secondregional confidence factor of the second sensing region 122B. The gloveapparatus may be pre-calibrated to expect a certain force applied to thesensing regions 122, which the sensor system 10 has learned through analgorithm with in its software. Over time, as the same motion isperformed by a user wearing the glove apparatus 10, such as inserting abolt, the sensor system 10 learns to expect a certain threshold level ofdetected force. If this threshold level is not met, then the rawconfidence factor will fall below the threshold level, indicating thatall the force applied to the sensor system 10 is not detected in thetotal applied force measurement.

At step 322, an activation area is determined. Referring to the exampledescribed in the preceding paragraphs, the determination of theactivation area of the non-inclusive region is based on the plurality ofactivated states of the plurality of sensors of the first sensing region122A and the second sensing region 122B. As stated above, a sensing area120 is formed from a plurality of sensing regions 122A-E, which may beidentical or different sizes. Based on the loading of each individualsensing region 122A-E within a sensing area 120, the activation area ofthe sensing area 120 is able to be determined, which corresponds towhich sensing regions 122A-E within the sensing area 120 that are notfully loaded across their total area. For example, if the first sensor124A is fully loaded, but the adjacent second sensing region 122B is notfully loaded, having a low regional confidence factor, it may bedetermined that a force is being applied to the non-inclusive region126. This also applies when multiple sensing regions 122A-E are in anactivated state and fully loaded, which may show the pressure gradientacross the whole sensing area 120 and bordering the non-inclusive region126.

At step 324, a force distribution is determined. Referring to theexample described in the preceding paragraphs, the determination of theforce distribution of the non-inclusive region based on the peakgenerated electrical signals of the plurality of sensors of the firstsensing region 122A and the second sensing region 122B. If some of thesensing regions 122A-E are fully loaded on one side of the sensing area120, but the force readings decrease as the force is applied across thesensing area 120 to the opposite side, such as across the second sensingregion 122B and towards the fourth sensing region 122D, this mayindicate that a force is applied to the non-inclusive region 126. Sincethe second sensing region 122B is not fully loaded, this would cause adiscrepancy in the relative magnitude of that particular sensing region122B, and therefore cause a lowering in the raw regional confidencefactor. The non-inclusive non-discrete correction algorithm woulddetermine the activation area of the non-inclusive region 126 and theamount of force expected to be applied to the non-inclusive region 126.For example, based on the surrounding sensing regions 122A and 122C-E,the non-inclusive non-discrete correction algorithm would determine thata non-inclusive region 126 only has an activation area and load of 75%of a predetermined total area. As explained above, the sensor system 10would determine the expected force from performing the assembly action,and would also determine the total area to expect when a force isapplied. For example, a bolt would be expected to have the same areaevery time one is inserted into a component.

At step 326, a corrected corresponding peak force measurement of thenon-inclusive region is calculated. Referring to the example describedin the preceding paragraphs, the corrected corresponding peak forcemeasurement is based on the activation area and force distribution ofthe first sensing region 122A and the second sensing region 122B. Thecorrected corresponding peak force measurement of the non-inclusiveregion may be a scaled peak force measurement based on a storedcalibration curve. Referring to the example described in the precedingparagraphs, after determining which sensing regions 122A-E areactivated, and how the force is distributed across the sensing area 120,a corrected corresponding peak force measurement can be calculated forthe non-inclusive region 126. The corrected corresponding peak forcemeasurement may be a scaled value of the measured peak force used tocalculate the raw confidence factor. In some embodiments, in order toscale the corrected corresponding peak force measurement appropriately,an algorithm developed using artificial intelligence from controlledexperiments in a lab setting may be used to determine the scaledcorrected corresponding peak force measurement. The artificialintelligence algorithm is based on the activation area and forcedistribution, and their relationship to the total applied force.Additionally, in some embodiments, stored calibrations for a pluralityof measured activation areas and force distributions may be used toscale the corrected corresponding peak force measurement. If an exactmatch does not exist within the stored calibrations, a scale factor canbe interpolated between stored calibrations in order to determine thecorrected corresponding peak force measurement.

Still referring to FIG. 3, at step 328, a corrected regional confidencefactor for the non-inclusive region is determined. Referring to theexample described in the preceding paragraphs, the corrected regionalconfidence factor may be based on the corresponding peak forcemeasurement for the non-inclusive region, the total applied force, andat least a portion of a total area of the sensing area. For example,using the corrected corresponding peak force measurement from step 326,the system equations for sensing regions 122A, 122B from step 310, and aportion of the total area of the sensing area 120, a corrected regionalconfidence factor for non-inclusive region 126 can be calculated.

At step 330, a corrected confidence factor is determined. Referring tothe example described in the preceding paragraphs, the correctedconfidence factor is determined by averaging the regional confidencefactors of the first sensing region 122A, the second sensing region122B, and the corrected regional confidence factor of the non-inclusiveregion 126. Similar to step 314, the corrected confidence factor isrepresentative of all of the force applied to the sensor system 10.

At step 332, the corrected confidence factor is compared to thethreshold confidence factor. The corrected confidence factor may behigher than the raw confidence factor, since the corrected confidencefactor includes all force applied to the sensor system 10.

In some embodiments, once the corrected confidence factor is calculated,the corrected confidence factor may be displayed to a user so the useris aware of the confidence factor. If the corrected confidence factor isstill below the threshold confidence factor, it may require the user toperform the movement again, with a new data collection process. If thecorrected confidence factor is below the threshold value, it may showthat a force was applied to an area of the sensor system 10 that did nothave a sensing area 120, which may correlate to bad ergonomics of theuser.

Referring now to the flow diagram of FIG. 4 in conjunction with FIGS. 2Aand 2B, an illustrative method 400 of localizing and measuring a forceload applied to the glove apparatus 200 is schematically depicted. Morespecifically, the glove apparatus 200 is operable to measure a resultantpressure generated from a force load received along the one or moresensing areas 220 on a surface of an occupant's hand. The depiction ofFIG. 4 and the accompanying description below is not meant to limit thesubject matter described herein or represent an exact description of howforces may be localized and measured, but instead is meant to provide asimple schematic overview to illustrate the general force localizationcharacteristics of the method described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in conjunction with the sensor system 20 ofFIGS. 2A and 2B, a flow diagram is schematically depicted of anillustrative method 400 of determining a pressure magnitude in responseto the glove apparatus 200 receiving a force applied thereon. Initially,at step 402, a force applied to a sensing area of a sensor system isdetected. Referring to FIG. 2B, the sensing area 220 includes a firstsensing region 222A and a second sensing region 222B, the first sensingregion 222A including a first plurality of sensors 224A, and the secondsensing region 222B including a second plurality of sensors 224B. Asstated above, a sensing area 220 may include a plurality of sensingregions 222A-E, with each sensing region 222A-E including a plurality ofsensors 224A-E, as depicted in FIG. 2B. The applied force generates anelectrical signal within each of the plurality of sensors 224A-E. Thisallows the sensors 224A-E arranged within the sensing regions 222A-Edetect the force applied to the sensing regions 222A-E, respectively.The amount of sensors 224A within the first sensing region 222A can varydepending on the size and shape of the first sensing region 222A.Additionally, the amount of sensors 224B within the second sensingregion 222B can vary depending on the size and shape of the secondsensing region 222B. In this instance, the force data detected by thesensors 224A-E is transmitted to the server computing device 14 of thesensor system 20 via the computer network 16 in the form of anelectrical signal 15. As a user wears the glove apparatus 200 and thenperforms some task (e.g., pushing a box, inserting a screw), a force isapplied to the glove apparatus 200. This input force is received by thesensing areas 220 which are arranged on the surface of the gloveapparatus 200.

At step 404, a plurality of activated states of the plurality of sensorsof sensing regions is determined. The determination of activated statesof the plurality of sensors is based on the detected force of theplurality of sensors. Referring to FIG. 2B, the first sensing region222A is placed in an inactive state if the detected force of the firstsensing region 222A is outside a ratio threshold when compared to thedetected force of the second sensing region 222B. As the force isapplied to the sensing area 220, an electrical signal is produced by theplurality of sensors 224A-E of the sensing regions 222A-E in response tothe force. The electrical signal can be produced through a piezoelectricmaterial, a potentiometer, or the like arranged within the sensing areas220.

The server computing device 14 determines whether a state of the sensingregions 222A-E receiving the force is in an activated state or aninactivated state. The determination of an activated state is based onthe electrical signal of each individual sensor 2224A-E, and comparingthe values of each electrical signal. For example, if a single sensingregion, such as the fifth sensing region 222E, having the plurality ofsensors 224E, produces an electrical signal significantly less that theother sensing regions 222A-D, then it would be determined that the fifthsensing region 222E is in an inactivated state, and may be removed fromfurther calculations, while the sensing regions 222A-222D may bedetermined to be in an activated state. Accordingly, it should beunderstood that in some instances the sensing regions 222A-E thatreceive a force applied thereto may not detect the force along theindividual, discrete area of the sensing regions 222A-E.

At step 406, a plurality of force measurements are determined based onelectrical signals of the plurality of sensors. For example, first forcemeasurements of the first plurality of sensors 224A may be determinedbased on a generated electrical signal of the first plurality of sensors224A. In some embodiments, the first force measurements of the firstplurality of sensors 224A are determined based on a peak generatedelectrical signal of the first plurality of sensors 224A. As a movementis performed by a user, the electrical signal of the first plurality ofsensors 224A is recorded (i.e., for a time interval of 5 seconds). Afterthe movement is performed, that electrical signal is compared to acorresponding calibration curve for the first plurality of sensors 224A.The peak force over the time interval experienced by the first pluralityof sensors 224A is then determined. Additionally, for example, secondforce measurements of the second plurality of sensors 224B may bedetermined based on a generated electrical signal of the secondplurality of sensors 224B. In some embodiments, the second forcemeasurements of the second plurality of sensors 224B are determinedbased on a peak generated electrical signal of the second plurality ofsensors 224B. Similar to the how the force measurement of the firstsensor 224A is determined, as a movement is performed by a user, theelectrical signal of the second plurality of sensors 224B is recorded(i.e., for a time interval of 5 seconds). After the movement isperformed, that electrical signals are compared to a correspondingcalibration curve for the second plurality of sensors 224B. The peakforce over the time interval experienced by the second plurality ofsensors 224B is then determined. The peak force measurements arecalculated using stored calibration curves including the relationshipbetween the peak generated electrical signals and a corresponding forcemeasurement. During a procedure, a user may push on an object whilewearing the sensor system 20. Over the time interval of the procedure, athe force applied is detected at a sampling rate of 20-40 Hz, althoughother sampling rates may be considered. The peak electrical signalgenerated by a sensing regions 222A-E may be translated into a peakforce value based on a stored calibration curve. The stored calibrationcurves may be compiled in a lab setting where various known forces wereapplied to the sensing regions 222, and the corresponding electricalsignals were recorded in order to create the stored calibration curveover the effect measuring range of the sensing regions 222A-E. Forexample, if a voltage of 2 volts is being read in by the first pluralityof sensors 224A of the first sensing region 222A, then the correspondingforce value when the first plurality of sensors 224A is detecting 2volts may be 20 lbf applied to the first sensing region 222A.

Still referring to FIG. 4, at step 408, a total applied force isdetermined. Referring to the example being described in the precedingparagraphs, the total applied force may be determined based on the forcemeasurements. The total applied force is determined by summing theplurality of peak force measurements of the first plurality of sensors224A and the second plurality of sensors 224B, respectively. After eachsensing region 222A-E has its peak force measurements calculated basedon the stored calibration curves, each of the peak force measurementsare summed together to determine the peak total applied force across thesampling rate. For example, the total applied force is represented bythe following equation: F_(Total)=F₁+F₂+ . . . +F_(N), where N is thetotal number of sensing regions 222A-E within a sensing area 220.

At step 410, relative magnitudes of the sensing regions are determined.Referring to the example described in the preceding paragraphs, a firstrelative magnitude of the first sensing region 222A is determined basedon the force measurements of the plurality of sensors 224A of the firstsensing region 222A, a first area of the first sensing region 222A, andat least a portion of the total area of the sensing area 220. In someembodiments, the first relative magnitude of the first sensing region222A is determined based on the peak force measurements of the pluralityof sensors 224A of the first sensing region 222A, the first area of thefirst sensing region 222A, and at least a portion of the total area ofthe sensing area 220. Additionally, for example, a second relativemagnitude of the second sensing region 222B is determined based on theforce measurements of the plurality of sensors 224B of the secondsensing region 222B, the first area of the first sensing region 222A,and at least a portion of the total area of the sensing area 220. Insome embodiments, the second relative magnitude of the second sensingregion 222B is determined based on the peak force measurements of theplurality of sensors 224B of the second sensing region 222B, the firstarea of the first sensing region 222A, and the second area of the secondsensing region 222B. As stated above, a sensing area 220 may be brokeninto various sensing regions 222A-E of different sizes across which atotal force is applied. The relative magnitude (F_(R)) of a sensingregion 222A-E is represented by the equation: Relative Magnitude(F_(RN))=(Applied Force (F_(N))/Area of Sensing Region (A_(N))). Sincethe total applied force is applies across the sensing area 220, each ofthe sensing regions 222A-E may be related to one another based on thearea of each sensing region 222A-E and the total applied force to thesensing area 220. For example, if a first sensing region 222A has halfas much area as a second sensing region 222B, then the force applied tothe second sensing region 222B (F₂) in terms of the force applied to thefirst sensing region 222A (F₁) would be half of F₁. A system equationfor each individual sensing region 222A-E within a sensing area 220 maybe created, placing the forces applied to each sensing region 222A-E interms of that particular sensing region's measured peak applied force.If the sensing regions 222A-E of a sensing area 220 all had the appliedforce applied across their total area, then each of the system equationsfor the sensing regions 222A-E would equal the total applied force. If asensing region 222A-E did not have a force applied across its totalarea, then the force calculated by the system equation using therelative magnitudes would be less than the total applied force.

At step 412, regional confidence factors for the sensing regions aredetermined. Referring to the example described in the precedingparagraphs, a first regional confidence factor for the first sensingregion 222A is determined based on the first relative magnitude and thetotal applied force. Additionally, for example, a second regionalconfidence factor for the second sensing region 222B is determined basedon the second relative magnitude and the total applied force. Theequation to calculate a regional confidence factor is as follows:Regional Confidence Factor (RCF_(N))=F_(RN)/F_(Total). If a sensingregion 222A-E had the total applied force applied across its entirearea, than the regional confidence factor would be equal to 100%, sincethe relative magnitude would be equal to the total applied force whencalculated using the system equations described above. This processwould be repeated for each sensing region 222A-E within a sensing area220 so that a regional confidence factor for each sensing region 222A-Eis calculated.

Still referring to FIG. 4, at step 414, a raw confidence factor isdetermined. Referring to the example described in the precedingparagraphs, a raw confidence factor is determined based on the firstregional confidence factor and the second regional confidence factor.The raw confidence factor is determined by averaging the first regionalconfidence factor and the second regional confidence factor in someembodiments. The raw confidence factor is an average of each of theregional confidence factors in some embodiments. For example, if each ofthe regional confidence factors from step 312 where equal to 100%, thenthat would represent that all of the force imparted to a sensing area220 was captured by the sensing regions 222A-E. This would yield a rawconfidence factor of 100%, where the equation governing the raw totalconfidence is as follows: Raw Confidence Factor (RCF_(N))=((RCF₁+RCF₂+ .. . +RCF_(N))/N)*100%.

At step 416, the raw confidence factor is compared to a thresholdconfidence factor. For example, in some embodiments it is determined ifthe raw confidence factor is below a threshold confidence factor. If aregional confidence factor were not equal to 100%, representing that asensing region 222A-E did not receive the full force applied across itstotal area, then the raw confidence factor would be less than 100%, andmay dip below an acceptable confidence factor threshold. In embodiments,the threshold confidence factor may be set by a user prior to performingthe method, or may be preset to help avoid injury to a user. Forexample, the threshold confidence factor may be set to a 90% threshold,where the raw confidence factor represents the system's confidence inthat is collected all the force applied to the sensing regions 222A-E.

At step 418, a correction algorithm is initiated to calculate acorrected confidence factor. In some embodiments, the determination toperform the correction algorithm is based on a comparison of the rawconfidence factor and a threshold confidence factor of step 416. In someembodiments, the correction algorithm to calculate the correctedconfidence factor is performed if the raw confidence factor is below thethreshold confidence factor. In the event the raw confidence factorfalls below the threshold confidence factor, it is determined that aportion of the force applied to a sensing area 220, and particularly toa sensing region 222A-E was not applied properly to the glove apparatus200, and instead was applied to the non-inclusive regions 226, 228. Thisis detrimental in situations where the glove apparatus 200 is being usedto monitor the ergonomics of a user performing a task. If the forceapplied to the sensing area 220 is not applied correctly, this can leadto fatigue problems and injury to the user. In some embodiments, inorder to ensure that force applied to the glove is not missed, and toensure total applied force is measured appropriately, a non-inclusivediscrete correction algorithm is performed on sensing regions 222A-Ewhich a relative magnitude not equal to the total applied force, as willbe described further below.

Still referring to FIG. 4, at step 420, a non-inclusive region isdetermined. Referring to the example described in the precedingparagraphs, a portion of the force applied to the sensor system 20 wasapplied to the non-inclusive region 226 based on the first regionalconfidence factor of the first sensing region 222A and the secondregional confidence factor of the second sensing region 222B. The gloveapparatus may be pre-calibrated to expect a certain force applied to thesensing regions 222, which the sensor system 20 has learned through analgorithm with in its software. Over time, as the same motion isperformed by a user wearing the sensor system 20, such as inserting abolt, the sensor system 20 learns to expect a certain threshold level ofdetected force. If this threshold level is not met, then the rawconfidence factor will fall below the threshold level, indicating thatall the force applied to the sensor system 20 is not detected in thetotal applied force measurement.

At step 422, an activation area is determined. Referring to the exampledescribed in the preceding paragraphs, the determination of theactivation area of the non-inclusive region is based on the plurality ofactivated states of the plurality of sensors of the first sensing regionand the second sensing region. As stated above, a sensing area 220 isformed from a plurality of sensing regions 222A-E, with each sensingregions 222A-E having a plurality of sensors 224A-E arranged therein,respectively. The sensing regions 222A-E may be identical or differentsizes, and may have different amounts of sensors 224A-E. Based on theloading of each individual sensor 224A-E within a sensing region 222A-E,which is within a sensing area 220, the activation area of the sensingarea 220 is able to be determined, which corresponds to which sensingregions 222A-E within the sensing area 220 are not fully loaded acrosstheir total area. For example, if the first plurality of sensors 224A isfully loaded, but the adjacent second plurality of sensors 224B are notfully loaded, having a low regional confidence factor, it may bedetermined that a force is being applied to the non-inclusive region226. This also applies when multiple sensing regions 222A-E are in anactivated state and fully loaded, which may show the pressure gradientacross the whole sensing area 120 and bordering the non-inclusive region226.

At step 424, a force distribution is determined. Referring to theexample described in the preceding paragraphs, the determination of theforce distribution of the non-inclusive region is based on the appliedforce to each sensor of the plurality of sensors of the first sensingregion and the second sensing region. If some of the sensors 224B withinthe second sensing region 222B are fully loaded on one side of thesecond sensing region 222B, but the force readings decrease as the forceis applied across the second sensing region 222B to the opposite side,such as across the second sensing region 222B and towards the fourthsensing region 222D, this may indicate that a force is applied to thenon-inclusive region 226. Since the second sensing region 222B is notfully loaded, this would cause a discrepancy in the relative magnitudeof the second sensing region 222B, and therefore cause a lowering in theraw regional confidence factor. The non-inclusive discrete correctionalgorithm would determine the activation area of the non-inclusiveregion 226 and the amount of force expected to be applied to thenon-inclusive region 226. For example, based on the surrounding sensingregions 222A and 222C-E, the non-inclusive discrete correction algorithmwould determine that a non-inclusive region 226 only has an activationarea and load of 75% of a predetermined total area. As explained above,the sensor system 20 would determine the expected force from performingthe assembly action, and would also determine the total area to expectwhen a force is applied. For example, a bolt would be expected to havethe same area every time one is inserted into a component.

At step 426, a corrected corresponding peak force measurement of thenon-inclusive region is calculated. Referring to the example describedin the preceding paragraphs, the corrected corresponding peak forcemeasurement is based on the activation area and force distribution ofthe first sensing region and the second sensing region. The correctedcorresponding peak force measurement of the non-inclusive region isdetermined based on the activation area and force distribution of thenon-inclusive region 226 may be a scaled peak force measurement based ona stored calibration curve. After determining which sensors 224A-Ewithin the sensing regions 222A-E are activated, and how the force isdistributed across the sensing regions 222A-E, a corrected correspondingpeak force measurement can be calculated for the non-inclusive region226. The corrected corresponding peak force measurement may be a scaledvalue of the measured peak force used to calculate the raw confidencefactor. In some embodiments, in order to scale the correctedcorresponding peak force measurement appropriately, an algorithmdeveloped using artificial intelligence from controlled experiments in alab setting may be used to determine the scaled corrected correspondingpeak force measurement. The artificial intelligence algorithm is basedon the activation area and force distribution, and their relationship tothe total applied force. Additionally, in some embodiments, storedcalibrations for a plurality of measured activation areas and forcedistributions may be used to scale the corrected corresponding peakforce measurement. If an exact match does not exist within the storedcalibrations, a scale factor can be interpolated between storedcalibrations in order to determine the corrected corresponding peakforce measurement.

Still referring to FIG. 4, at step 428, a corrected regional confidencefactor for the non-inclusive region is determined. Referring to theexample described in the preceding paragraphs, the corrected regionalconfidence factor may be based on the corresponding peak forcemeasurement for the non-inclusive region, the total applied force, andat least a portion of a total area of the sensing area. Using thecorrected corresponding peak force measurement from step 426, and thesystem equations for the first sensing region 222A and the secondsensing region 222B from step 420, a corrected regional confidencefactor for the non-inclusive region 126 can be calculated.

At step 430, a corrected confidence factor is determined. Referring tothe example described in the preceding paragraphs, the correctedconfidence factor is determined by averaging the regional confidencefactors of the first sensing region 222A, the second sensing region222B, and the corrected regional confidence factor of the non-inclusiveregion 226. Similar to step 414, the corrected confidence factor isrepresentative of all of the force applied to the sensor system 20.

At step 432, the corrected confidence factor is compared to thethreshold confidence factor. The corrected confidence factor may behigher than the raw confidence factor, since the corrected confidencefactor includes force applied to the sensor system 20.

Referring now to the flow diagram of FIG. 5 in conjunction with FIGS.1A-2B, an illustrative method 500 of determining a force load applied toa non-inclusive region 126 of the glove apparatus 100 is schematicallydepicted. More specifically, the glove apparatus 100 is operable tomeasure a resultant pressure generated from a force load received alongthe one or more sensing areas 120 on a surface of an occupant's hand.The depiction of FIG. 5 and the accompanying description below is notmeant to limit the subject matter described herein or represent an exactdescription of how forces may be localized and measured, but instead ismeant to provide a simple schematic overview to illustrate the generalforce localization characteristics of the method described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in conjunction with the sensor system 10 ofFIGS. 1A and 1B, a flow diagram is schematically depicted of anillustrative method 500 of determining a pressure magnitude applied to anon-inclusive region 126 of the glove apparatus 100 receiving a forceapplied thereon. Initially, at step 502, it is determined that a portionof a force applied to a sensor system was applied to a non-inclusiveregion of the sensor system. Referring to the example described in thepreceding paragraphs, as a user is performing an assembly operation, theuser will apply a force to an object, such as a bolt, in order to insertthe object. If the user does not apply the force completely across asensing area 122A-E, then a portion of the force will be applied to thenon-inclusive region 126, where no sensors are arranged. Thisdetermination is made since the sensor system 10 may be expecting acertain threshold level of applied force, either through a thresholdrange created from machine learning algorithm after many processes areperformed with the sensor system 10, or if the range is a preset range.

At step 504, an activation area of the non-inclusive region isdetermined. Referring to the example described in the precedingparagraphs, the activation area of the non-inclusive region 126 isdetermined based on the plurality of activated states of the sensors124A, 124B of the first sensing region 122A and the second sensingregion 122B. Additionally, the activation area of the non-inclusiveregion 126 is based on a stored profile geometry from a plurality ofactivation areas, such as bolts or panels which are pressed upon duringan assembly process.

At step 506, a force distribution of the non-inclusive region isdetermined. Referring to the example described in the precedingparagraphs, the force distribution of the non-inclusive region 126 isbased on the plurality of activated states of the sensors 124A, 124B ofthe first sensing region 122A and the second sensing region 122B and apredicted applied force to the sensor system 10. As the sensor system 10is used, the sensor system 10 may learn how much force is to be expectedfor an assembly process. For example, if a user is performing the sameoperation while wearing the sensor system 10, the system will be able todetermine an acceptable range of force applied to the sensor system.Based on this the sensor system will be able to determine what portionof the force was applied to the sensing regions 122A-E, and whichportion was applied to the non-inclusive region 126.

At step 508, a corresponding force measurement of the non-inclusiveregion based on the activation area and the force distribution isdetermined. Referring to the example described in the precedingparagraphs, based on the activation area and the force distribution, thenon-inclusive region 126 may be quantified virtually so that the sensorsystem 10 may determine how much force was applied to the sensor system10 as a whole. This corresponding force measurement may then be used inthe total applied force equation in combination with the relativemagnitudes of the other sensing regions 122A-E which also had a forceapplied to them.

In embodiments, once the corrected confidence factor is calculated, thecorrected confidence factor may be displayed to a user so the user isaware of the confidence factor. If the corrected confidence factor isstill below the threshold confidence factor, it may require the user toperform the movement again, with a new data collection process. If thecorrected confidence factor is below the threshold value, it may showthat a force was applied to an area of the sensor system 20 that did nothave a sensing area 220, which may correlate to bad ergonomics of theuser.

Accordingly, the embodiments describe herein improve an accuracy ofmeasuring a pressure received along a sensor assembly of the glove bydetermining an actual active area of a sensor that receives a forcethereon for incorporation into actual force computations. Providing asensor system that localizes an inclusive force received along a sensormay assist in accurately measuring a resultant pressure calculated froma force applied thereto. The sensor system may aid in determining anappropriate method, such as a physical position or orientation, inperforming a task by detecting and measuring various forces received atan operator's hand at an actual active area along a surface of theoperator's hand with accuracy by localizing the area that the force wasreceived on the sensor system for accurate measurement.

It is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” may be utilizedherein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may beattributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or otherrepresentation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent thedegree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a statedreference without resulting in a change in the basic function of thesubject matter at issue.

While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein,it should be understood that various other changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimedsubject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimedsubject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not beutilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appendedclaims cover all such changes and modifications that are within thescope of the claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining that a portionof a force applied to a sensor system was applied to a non-inclusiveregion of the sensor system; determining an activation area of thenon-inclusive region; determining a force distribution of thenon-inclusive region; and calculating a corresponding force measurementof the non-inclusive region based on the activation area and the forcedistribution.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: detectingthe force applied to at least a portion of a sensing area of the sensorsystem, the sensing area including a first sensing region and a secondsensing region, each of the first sensing region and the second sensingregion including a plurality of sensors; determining a first forcemeasurement of the first sensing region based on generated electricalsignals of the plurality of sensors of the first sensing region;determining a second force measurement of the second sensing regionbased on generated electrical signals of the plurality of sensors of thesecond sensing region; determining a total applied force based on thefirst force measurement and the second force measurement; determining afirst relative magnitude of the first sensing region based on the firstforce measurement of the plurality of sensors of the first sensingregion, an area of the first sensing region, and at least a portion of atotal area of the sensing area; determining a second relative magnitudeof the second sensing region based on the second force measurement ofthe plurality of sensors of the second sensing region, the area of thesecond sensing region, and at least the portion of the total area of thesensing area; determining a first regional confidence factor for thefirst sensing region based on the first relative magnitude and the totalapplied force; determining a second regional confidence factor for thesecond sensing region based on the second relative magnitude and thetotal applied force; determining a raw confidence factor based on thefirst regional confidence factor and the second regional confidencefactor; and initiating a correction algorithm to calculate a correctedconfidence factor based on a comparison of the raw confidence factor anda threshold confidence factor.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein: thefirst and second force measurements of the plurality of sensors of thefirst sensing region and of the second sensing region are determinedbased on peak generated electrical signals of the plurality of sensorsof the first sensing region and the second sensing region; the totalapplied force is determined by summing a first peak force measurement ofthe first force measurement and a second peak force measurement of thesecond force measurement; the first relative magnitude of the firstsensing region is determined based on the first peak force measurementof the plurality of sensors of the first sensing region, the first areaof the first sensing region, and at least the portion of the total areaof the sensing area; the second relative magnitude of the second sensingregion is determined based on the second peak force measurement of theplurality of sensors of the second sensing region, the first area of thefirst sensing region, and at least the portion of the total area of thesensing area; the raw confidence factor is determined by averaging thefirst regional confidence factor and the second regional confidencefactor; and the correction algorithm to calculate the correctedconfidence factor is performed if the raw confidence factor is below thethreshold confidence factor.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the firstand second force measurements are calculated using stored calibrationcurves including the relationship between the peak generated electricalsignals and a corresponding force measurement.
 5. The method of claim 2,wherein a plurality of activated states of the plurality of sensors ofthe first sensing region and the second sensing region are based on thedetected force.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the activation area ofthe non-inclusive region is based on a stored profile geometry from aplurality of activation areas.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein theactivation area of the non-inclusive region is determined based on theplurality of activated states of the plurality of sensors of the firstsensing region and the second sensing region.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the force distribution of the non-inclusive region is based onthe plurality of activated states of the plurality of sensors of thefirst sensing region and the second sensing region and a predictedapplied force to the sensor system.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: detecting the force applied to at least a portion of asensing area of the sensor system, the sensing area including a firstsensing region and a second sensing region, each of the first sensingregion and the second sensing region including a sensor; determining afirst force measurement of the first sensing region based on generatedelectrical signal of the sensor of the first sensing region; determininga second force measurement of the second sensing region based ongenerated electrical signal of the sensor of the second sensing region;determining a total applied force based on the first force measurementand the second force measurement; determining a first relative magnitudeof the first sensing region based on the first force measurement of thesensor of the first sensing region, an area of the first sensing region,and at least a portion of a total area of the sensing area; determininga second relative magnitude of the second sensing region based on thesecond force measurement of the sensor of the second sensing region, thearea of the second sensing region, and at least the portion of the totalarea of the sensing area; determining a first regional confidence factorfor the first sensing region based on the first relative magnitude andthe total applied force; determining a second regional confidence factorfor the second sensing region based on the second relative magnitude andthe total applied force; determining a raw confidence factor based onthe first regional confidence factor and the second regional confidencefactor; and initiating a correction algorithm to calculate a correctedconfidence factor based on a comparison of the raw confidence factor anda threshold confidence factor.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein: thefirst and second force measurements of the sensors of the first sensingregion and of the second sensing region are determined based on peakgenerated electrical signals of the sensors of the first sensing regionand the second sensing region; the total applied force is determined bysumming a first peak force measurement of the first force measurementand a second peak force measurement of the second force measurement; thefirst relative magnitude of the first sensing region is determined basedon the first peak force measurement of the sensor of the first sensingregion, the area of the first sensing region, and at least the portionof the total area of the sensing area; the second relative magnitude ofthe second sensing region is determined based on the second peak forcemeasurement of the sensor of the second sensing region, the area of thesecond sensing region, and at least the portion of the total area of thesensing area; the raw confidence factor is determined by averaging thefirst regional confidence factor and the second regional confidencefactor; and the correction algorithm to calculate the correctedconfidence factor is performed if the raw confidence factor is below thethreshold confidence factor.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein thefirst and second force measurements are calculated using storedcalibration curves including the relationship between the peak generatedelectrical signals and a corresponding force measurement.
 12. The methodof claim 9, wherein a plurality of activated states of the sensors ofthe first sensing region and the second sensing region are based on thedetected force.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the activation areaof the non-inclusive region is based on a stored profile geometry from aplurality of activation areas.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein theactivation area of the non-inclusive region is determined based on theplurality of activated states of the sensor of the first sensing regionand the second sensing region.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein theforce distribution of the non-inclusive region is based on the pluralityof activated states of the sensor of the first sensing region and thesecond sensing region and a predicted applied force to the sensorsystem.
 16. A sensor system comprising: a sensing area disposed along asurface of the sensor system; a non-inclusive region arranged adjacentto the sensing area, wherein the non-inclusive region does not include asensor; and a processor that, when executing computer readable andexecutable instructions of the sensor system, causes the sensor systemto: determine that a portion of a force applied to the sensor system wasapplied to the non-inclusive region of the sensor system; determine anactivation area of the non-inclusive region; determine a forcedistribution of the non-inclusive region; and calculate a correspondingforce measurement of the non-inclusive region based on the activationarea and the force distribution.
 17. The sensor system of claim 16,further comprising: a first sensing region disposed within the sensingarea comprising a first sensor configured to detect a force applied tothe surface of the sensing area; and a second sensing region disposedwithin the sensing area comprising a second sensor configured to detecta force applied to the surface of the sensing area, wherein theprocessor, when executing computer readable and executable instructionsof the sensor system, further causes the sensor system to: detect theforce applied to at least a portion of the sensing area of the sensorsystem, wherein the force creates a plurality of electrical signalswithin the first sensor and the second sensor; determine a first forcemeasurement of the first sensor based on a generated electrical signalof the first sensor; determine a second force measurement of the secondsensor based on a generated electrical signal of the second sensor;determine a total applied force based on the first force measurement andthe second force measurement; determine a first relative magnitude ofthe first sensing region based on the first force measurement, an areaof the first sensing region, and at least a portion of a total area ofthe sensing area; determine a second relative magnitude of the secondsensing region based on the second force measurement, an area of thesecond sensing region, and at least the portion of the total area of thesensing area; determine a first regional confidence factor for the firstsensing region based on the first relative magnitude, and the totalapplied force; determine a second regional confidence factor for thesecond sensing region based on the second relative magnitude, and thetotal applied force; and determine a raw confidence factor based on thefirst regional confidence factor and the second regional confidencefactor.
 18. The sensor system of claim 17, wherein the first and secondforce measurements are calculated using stored calibration curvesincluding the relationship between the peak generated electrical signalsand a corresponding force measurement.
 19. The sensor system of claim18, wherein a plurality of activated states of the sensors of the firstsensing region and the second sensing region are based on the detectedforce.
 20. The sensor system of claim 19, wherein the activation area ofthe non-inclusive region is based on a stored profile geometry from aplurality of activation areas and on the plurality of activated statesof the sensor of the first sensing region and the second sensing region.